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ES045
La Demanda mountains
Location Spain, Castilla y León,La Rioja
Central coordinates 3o 0.00' West  42o 15.00' North
IBA criteria B2, C6
Area 133,000 ha
Altitude 800 - 2,271m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information This is an important area for species associated with upland forest and alpine grasslands.

Site description A mountainous area which comprises a large part of the Sistema Ibérico Norte. Much of area has been deforested and scrub and alpine grasslands predominate although in some areas there are extensive Quercus and Fagus woodlands. The area of Pinus plantations is increasing. Human activities include livestock-farming, game hunting and tourism and recreation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix resident  1989  35-41 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1995  min 15 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1995  20 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus breeding  1995  20 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  1996  9 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus breeding  1995  min 19 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Cameros National Game Reserve 92,918 protected area overlaps with site 15,000  
Demanda National Game Reserve 73,819 protected area overlaps with site 35,000  
RIBERAS DEL RÍO ARLANZA Y AFLUENTES - ES4120071 Habitats Directive 998 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
RIBERAS DEL RÍO ARLANZÓN Y AFLUENTES - ES4120072 Habitats Directive 973 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
RIBERAS DEL RÍO TIRÓN Y AFLUENTES - ES4120075 Habitats Directive 406 protected area overlaps with site 58  
SIERRA DE LA DEMANDA - ES4120012 Birds Directive 50,908 protected area overlaps with site 38,143  
SIERRA DE LA DEMANDA - ES4120092 Habitats Directive 70,692 protected area overlaps with site 46,698  
SIERRAS DE DEMANDA, URBIÓN, CEBOLLERA Y CAMEROS - ES0000067 Birds Directive 138,679 protected area overlaps with site 56,508  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Treeline ecotone  35%
Shrubland Heathland  15%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Humid grasslands  25%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams  5%
Rocky areas Scree & boulders  5%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations  35%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 40%
fisheries/aquaculture 5%
forestry 60%
hunting -
water management 5%

Management considerations The site is threatened by poor forestry practice, particularly the creation of Pinus plantations and the indiscriminate logging of the Fagus forest. Hunting pressure is high. A dam project is planned within the IBA.

Protection status National Partial International Partial15,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Cameros, 92,918 ha). 35,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Sierra de la Demanda, 73,819 ha). 58,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Sierra de la Demanda, 58,000 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: La Demanda mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife